-Group profit before tax rose 19.5 per cent to RM422.7 million on the back of favourable input cost and lower overheads. Excluding restructuring costs and other one-off items, profit before tax grew by 3.2 per cent.
-Group revenue marginally higher at RM4.11 billion compared to corresponding period last year despite tough operating environment underpinned by effective festive promotions and higher exports sales.
-Food & Beverage Malaysia registered improved revenue for three consecutive quarters signalling regained stability post-reorganisation. Exports from Malaysia continue the year-on-year double-digit growth in FY2018, on track to surpass RM500 million goal in 2020.
-Food & Beverage Thailand overcome tough domestic market and intensified competition to deliver positive revenue through successful productinnovations and brand activations.
-Recommending an final single tier dividend of 30.5 sen per share (2017: 30.5 sen per share).

Fourth quarter 2017/2018 performance

Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&NHB or the Group) posted a higher revenue of RM996.6 million for its fourth quarter ended 30 September 2018, up 2.1 per cent with a significant improvement in the Group’s bottom line compared to same quarter in 2017.

For the Group’s segmental performance, Food & Beverage Malaysia (F&B Malaysia) recorded positive revenue gain for the third consecutive quarter, growing 1.9 per cent to RM545.4 million in its fourth quarter ended 30 September 2018 driven by improved local trade execution and higher exports sales, marking a return to stability post-reorganisation.

Operating profit for F&B Malaysia soared 418.7 per cent to RM36.5 million in the fourth quarter of FY2018 compared to the corresponding period last year on the back of higher revenue, operational cost savings and lower overheads, lower sugar prices which was partly offset by higher packaging material costs, lower advertising and promotions (A&P) spend and restructuring expenses incurred last year. Excluding restructuring costs and other one-off items, operating profit grew by 78.4 per cent.

Food & Beverage Thailand (F&B Thailand) increased its revenue by 2.3 per cent to RM450.9 million for the fourth quarter ended 30 September 2018. Domestic growth was driven by successful promotional activities and brand loyalty campaigns alongside with higher export sales from market expansion and execution of loyalty campaigns across Cambodia and Laos.

With higher revenue and favourable input costs, operating profit for F&B Thailand was up 94.9 per cent to RM61.7 million in its fourth quarter, compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

Full year 2017/2018 performance

The Group concluded its financial year ended 30 September 2018 with a marginally higher revenue at RM4.11 billion compared to the same period last year underpinned by effective festive promotions and exports sales.

Cost synergies and lower overheads in its Malaysia operations, favourable input cost, higher export revenue and lower restructuring costs and other one-off items incurred compared to the year before contributed to the double-digit profit growth in FY2018. Commenting on the Group’s results, F&NHB Chairman Tengku Syed Badarudin Jamalullail said that the results were driven by strong fundamentals and clear focus on long-term growth, which exemplified F&NHB’s resilience amid various head winds.

“Moving forward, we will continue to sharpen our focus on ensuring continuous and sustainable growth in our three pillars – F&B Malaysia, F&B Thailand and Exports,” said Tengku Syed Badarudin.

The financial year ended 30 September 2018 saw a turnaround for F&B Malaysia. While revenue increased marginally to RM2.322 billion from RM2.319 billion in the same period last year, operating profit was higher by 38.1 per cent to RM166.7 million from RM120.7 million last year.

F&B Thailand sustained its growth and market leadership during the year under review through successful introduction of new products and packaging formats, supported by effective branding and consumer trade campaigns, despite a difficult domestic market environment and encountering the loss of UHT milk revenue caused by inventory shortage resulting from a co-manufacturer’s plant that was damaged by fire in November 2017. Revenue for F&B Thailand grew 2.2 per cent in local currency terms but gained marginally by 0.3 per cent to RM1.787 billion from the corresponding period in 2017 due to the strengthening of the Ringgit against Thai Baht. F&B Thailand’s operating profit for the financial year ended 30 September 2018 rose 13.1 per cent to RM258.0 million compared to the same period last year on the back of higher export revenue, favourable input costs and lower overheads. The gains were partly offset by higher A&P spend for new product introductions and brand building activities.

“Despite the challenging first half of 2018, we remained focused on capacity and capability building, cost optimisation and extraction of synergies, leveraging consumer-focused innovations to deliver new and unique product offerings, and expanding the reach of our export business. This has allowed us to pull together a healthy set of results and delivery of our financial objectives within volatile domestic markets and commodity prices during the year,” said F&NHB Chief Executive Officer, Lim Yew Hoe.

Lim added that innovation and reinvention will be the Group’s overarching strategy to stimulate growth and demand while delivering on its promise of “Pure Enjoyment, Pure Goodness” in meeting consumer’s increasing demand for more affordable, tastier and healthier offerings.

During the year under review, F&B Malaysia introduced a broader portfolio of healthier choice products in support of the Government’s call for lower sugar content in beverages. 100PLUS Reduced Sugar was introduced as the lowest sugar carbonated isotonic drink in the industry and the entire 100PLUS range has been reformulated and now carries the Healthier Choice logo.

100PLUS ACTIVE in powder sachets was also introduced to meet increasing consumer demand for greater convenience and flexibility, particularly for people on the go. The new Cold-Aseptic Filling Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) line at the Shah Alam plant that uses 40 per cent less PET resin packaging has commenced production. This line is currently producing 100PLUS ACTIVE, OYOSHI and F&N SEASONS range of products and will spearhead F&NHB’s expansion into new product offerings.

Commenting on prospects for the current financial year ending 30 September 2019, Lim expected the domestic markets in Malaysia and Thailand to remain challenging amidst continuing competitive price pressures and intensifying competition as well as effects from the volatility in foreign currency movements and commodity prices.

The Group has partially hedged its core commodity requirements for the coming financial year with the corresponding foreign currency exposure wherever possible.

“In Malaysia, we will assess and closely monitor the impact of the imposition of excise duty at 40 cents per litre on ready-to-drink beverages that contain sugar exceeding 5 grams per 100 millilitres, starting 1 April 2019 as announced during the recent tabling of the Budget 2019, including taking appropriate actions as necessary. In Thailand, we will begin to pay corporate taxes next year following the full utilisation of promotional incentives granted by the Board of Investment and carried forward losses from non-promoted businesses.” Lim added.

In line with the Group’s performance, the Board is recommending an final single tier dividend of 30.5 sen per share (2017: 30.5 sen per share) for approval by shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. If approved by shareholders, the total dividend for the year would amount to 57.5 sen per share (2017: 57.5 sen per share).